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VetNurse.co.uk publishes a curated feed of veterinary nursing news for registered veterinary nurses (RVNs), students (SVNs) and veterinary nursing assistants, with a primary focus on the UK profession.
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We report across all areas of practice, including companion animal, referral and specialist settings, with a focus on issues affecting veterinary nurses in clinical and professional roles.
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The definition agreed by VN Council is as follows:
Veterinary nursing aims to ease the suffering and pain of animals, and to improve their health and welfare.
This includes providing any medical treatment or any minor surgery (not involving entry into a body cavity) to animals under the direction of a veterinary surgeon who has that animal under their care.
Veterinary nursing can be either proactive or reactive, and autonomous or collaborative. It is carried out in a wide variety of settings, for animals at all life stages, and considers the background and needs of the animal’s owner or keeper.
Matthew Rendle RVN, the Chair of VN Council, said: “Although it is just a few short lines, this definition of veterinary nursing has been in the pipeline for some time.
"While we as veterinary nurses have always been able to define ourselves by the type of tasks we carry out, or our relation to veterinary surgeons in terms of delegation, there hasn’t necessarily been a clear statement articulating the art and science of veterinary nursing.
“With the RCVS looking to expand its regulatory remit to include other veterinary paraprofessionals over the long term, we thought it was particularly important that we set out the stall for veterinary nursing and we hope that this clear statement will, in particular, aid the public in understanding the role of a veterinary nurse.
“It should be noted that this definition is VN Council’s own considered interpretation of the art and science of veterinary nursing.
"Other interpretations from other organisations, provided they conform with both Schedule 3 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act and the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct, could sit comfortably alongside ours, and we hope there continues to be healthy discussion about the contribution of the profession to the veterinary team, as our role evolves.”
What do you think of the definition and do you think it will help change the public and the profession's perceptions. Have your say here: https://www.vetnurse.co.uk/001/f/nonclinical-discussions/32399/what-do-you-think-of-the-new-rcvs-vn-council-definition-of-the-role-of-vet-nurses
The survey was conducted following the recent RCVS Council decision to redefine ‘Under Care’ to allow vets to prescribe remotely.
692 veterinary surgeons took part in the survey, 88.7% of which worked in practice, 8.7% worked elsewhere and 2.6% are retired.
42.4% worked in corporate practice, 42.4% at an independent practice (spooky), 9.6% locum and 2.6% at a charity.
94% worked in first opinion practice, 5.7% in referral practice.
When asked: “Do you agree with the RCVS Council decision to allow veterinary surgeons to prescribe medication without having seen / examined the animal in person?”, 78.2% said no, 13.6% said yes and 8.2% said ‘ambivalent’.
This raises an interesting discussion about the role of RCVS Council, which the College has long said is ‘representative of’, but not there 'to represent’ the profession in self-regulating.
By any measure, this decision was not ‘representative of’ the wider body of opinion.
It could be argued that electorates vote for representatives to make more informed decisions than they themselves are able, and certainly MPs have voted in ways that are not representative of the wider body of public opinion.
But this is the veterinary profession. MPs have to represent a wide cross-section of society, some groups of which might struggle to field one working brain cell between them.
By contrast, veterinary surgeons are a highly intelligent, highly educated subset of the population, who you might assume are better qualified to make decisions on matters such as these.
So why this level of disagreement? We asked respondents to select any benefits and drawbacks they think remote prescribing will bring, from a list but with the option for them to write in any we hadn’t thought of.
When asked to select benefits of remote prescribing, the majority (70.9%) selected: “Reduced cost to the pet owner (driving/parking etc)’.
39.3% said it would bring an improvement to vets’ quality of life through more flexible working.
27.5% said animal welfare would be improved through increased access to veterinary services.
14.3% said it would bring an ‘Improved client/vet relationship’.
Of those people who selected a benefit, 49.9% said the biggest benefit of remote prescribing is a reduced cost to the pet owner (driving / parking etc).
Other benefits highlighted in the comments section were
Notably, in the comments section for the benefits of remote prescribing, out of the 104 comments, 33 actually commented 'no benefit' or negatively.
When asked to select the drawbacks of remote prescribing, 94.3% selected: ‘Harm to animals caused by misdiagnoses and missed diagnoses.
68% said: Worsened client / vet relationship
60.6% said: Threat to independent practice (corporates funnelling clients from online consults to their practices).
Other drawbacks identified by respondents were:
Amongst the written drawbacks, the biggest themes concerned abuse of drugs and antimicrobial resistance.
When those who had selected a drawback were then asked which was the biggest, 83.3% said ‘Harm to animals caused by misdiagnoses and missed diagnoses”
So in simple terms, in weighing up the pros and cons, it’s between the reduced cost to the owner on the one hand, cited by 70.9%, and harm to animal welfare on the other, cited by 94%. And the harm to animal welfare was selected by significantly more vets as the biggest concern, than reduced cost was selected as the biggest benefit.
In other words, vets think remote prescribing will make veterinary care cheaper, but at the overall cost to animal welfare.
British Veterinary Association President Malcolm Morley said: “New technology presents many opportunities to enhance existing veterinary services, with potential benefits for vets, clients and patients.
"However, we recognise there are concerns within the profession, particularly around the potential unintended consequences of the RCVS’s revised guidance on ‘under care’ in relation to animal welfare and access to veterinary services.
"This survey echoes these concerns as well as supporting the British Veterinary Association’s call for the RCVS to commit to a post-implementation review.”
Omniflora paste is designed to provide fast acting support in acute digestive upset or strategically ahead of perceived stressful events such as travel or veterinary appointments.
It contains probiotics, prebiotics, adsorbents, parabiotics, postbiotics, electrolytes and nutrients.
Omniflora tablets are available for animals who resist an oral syringe.
The tablets contain probiotics, prebiotics and adsorbent clay and fibre.
Veterinary nurse and sales manager, Tara Evans, said: “Digestive upset in cats and dogs is common.
"We wanted to provide vets and pet owners with an easy-to-use solution that can be used in practice or at home.
"One tube of paste lasts for three consecutive days to support cats and dogs as they recover from gastrointestinal upset.”
"As well as supporting the gut in acute episodes of digestive upset such as diarrhoea, Omniflora can be used ahead of time in stressful events such as travelling, visiting the groomers, or any planned veterinary procedures such as surgeries or blood tests.”
Omniflora can be ordered here https://www.vitaanimalhealth.com/product/omniflora
Richard completed his specialist training at the Royal Veterinary College and remained there for a further year as a clinician before spending seven years gaining referral experience at a multi-disciplinary referral hospital in Surrey.
From the Sevenoaks hospital he provides ophthalmology services including cataract surgery, corneal ulcer management, treatment of feline corneal sequestra, tear film disorders such as keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), and emergency ophthalmic cases.
South East Veterinary Referrals has installed a Zeiss operating microscope to support procedures including cataract removal, corneal ulcer repair and corneal transpositions.
Richard said: "Eye problems in dogs and cats can progress rapidly.
"Cataracts linked to diabetes, deep corneal ulcers, or trauma can threaten sight within days.
"Until now, many complex cases in Kent had to be referred many miles away.
"SEVR provides a seamless pathway for assessment and surgery, whilst ensuring pets return to their first referral vet for follow-up care when appropriate."
www.southeastvetreferrals.com
WellVet was founded in 2019 and was established and run as a not-for-profit by vets Liz Barton, Ru Tipney, Nat Scroggie and Katie Ford.
It provided in-person and online events to help people build their own wellbeing toolkit.
It also developed and hosted free expert-led resources on perimenopause.
Vet Empowered is a coaching and wellbeing platform run by Claire Grigson and WellVet team member Katie Ford, and it will host the WellVet resources on its website.
Liz said: "WellVet was developed at a time when the conversation around wellbeing was growing, but many resources were not reaching colleagues who could benefit.
"Our aim was to connect people with solutions to live happier and healthier in mind, body and soul.
"We have been honoured to host outstanding expert speakers and to receive many moving testimonials demonstrating real positive impact.
"However, securing funding for WellVet’s activities has become increasingly challenging in the current climate.
"Bringing WellVet’s resources into another established wellbeing platform is the best way to ensure these materials remain freely available and continue to benefit the veterinary community.”
https://www.vetempowered.com/wellvet
The scheme gives practices access to a dedicated website hosting short training films showing what to cover in a ten-minute consult for a range of common behaviour problems, alongside owner-facing leaflets and posters.
There's also a handy staff room poster with QR codes linking to the training films so team members can watch them on a coffee break, if they feel so inclined.
Behavet says that limited consultation time, patient insecurity, uncertainty over what advice to offer, and concerns about whether guidance is up to date or worthwhile all influence the level of behaviour support delivered in first-opinion practice.
The company argues this can create a vicious circle in which owners disengage, problems escalate, and specialist help is only sought once issues have become entrenched.
Behavet Impact aims to break that cycle by supporting earlier, more effective intervention.
To date, materials have already been delivered to more than 400 UK veterinary practices within the project’s first three months.
To join the initiative, contact Behavet: https://www.beha.vet
CrCLD has previously been suggested to be associated with gonad status, but there has been no clear consensus on how “early” gonadectomy should be defined in male or female dogs.
The study carried out a secondary analysis of data from more than 20,000 dogs spanning 36 years to explore the association between cumulative gonadal hormone exposure and risk of CrCLD.
Rather than categorising dogs using arbitrary age cut-offs, the researchers treated gonadal hormone exposure as a continuous variable.
In the dataset analysed, the prevalence of CrCLD was 2.49% in females and 1.89% in male dogs.
The risk of CrCLD was highest in dogs with the least gonadal hormone exposure — before 1054 days (approximately 2.9 years) in females and 805 days (approximately 2.2 years) in males.
The minimum risk was observed at around 2.9 years for females and 2.2 years for males.
The authors say that these findings suggest gonadectomy is very likely to be associated with an increased risk of CrCLD, and that previously suggested arbitrary cut-offs of two years of age may not be scientifically grounded.
Overall, the paper concluded that removal of gonadal hormones should be performed after musculoskeletal maturity, if at all.
Lead author Dr Daniel Low said there is an increasing body of evidence linking the development of CrCLD with neutering in both male and female dogs, and that the timing of neutering matters.
He added that the health benefits of neutering in reducing the risk of other diseases should not be overlooked, and that every decision to neuter should be made on a case-by-case basis by the attending veterinary surgeon in consultation with the animal owner.
Reference
The group said the funding has enabled all of its practices to access equipment including capnography and multiparameter monitors, alongside a structured training programme and a “low-flow anaesthesia” care framework.
So far, IVC practices have taken delivery of over 500 pieces of equipment and IVC says thousands of clinicians have downloaded the digital training and resources.
The project is designed to overcome three main barriers to adoption that IVC has identified: awareness, equipment availability and clinical confidence, with a focus on empowering Registered Veterinary Nurses and supporting change management at a practice level.
IVC says emissions from anaesthetic procedures can account for around 30% of the carbon emissions of a typical veterinary practice, and that low-flow anaesthesia reduces the environmental impact while maintaining or improving patient safety1.
In particular, IVC points to three main areas in the literature where there can be patient benefits from using low-flow: smoother inductions and frequently reduced recoveries; reduced risk of hypothermia; and warmed and humidified gases can further reduce hypothermia risk and, due to airway benefits, reduce the likelihood of other complications2.
Richard Hooker, Country Medical Director said: “By investing in state-of-the-art equipment, comprehensive training, and ongoing support, we are empowering our teams to deliver sustainable anaesthesia with confidence and safety. This commitment ensures we continue to provide the highest standard of care for our patients.”
Is low flow worth it? Discuss here: https://www.vetnurse.co.uk/b/veterinary-nursing-news/posts/ivc-evidensia-invests-500-000-to-support-adoption-of-more-sustainable-low-flow-anaesthesia
References
The app allows first-opinion vets to submit advice requests directly, including attachments such as radiographs, videos, images, clinical notes and laboratory results.
Responses from Movement Referrals’ clinicians are documented within a chat-style interface, allowing practices to monitor the status of their requests and retain a clear record of the advice they've been given.
Movement says the platform was developed to address the difficulties of managing advice requests via email, where tracking conversations and recording responses can become challenging alongside routine practice correspondence.
The app also generates an AI summary of uploaded clinical notes and includes a “refer this case” function to facilitate formal referral where appropriate.
John Innes, co-director of Movement Referrals and developer of the app, said: "This app is quick to install on a desktop or laptop and we have tested it with a small number of practices so far - feedback has been very positive."
To register, referring practices are advised to use a shared practice email address that all clinicians have access to, and email info@movementvets.co.uk with the message: “Please register our practice for the Movement Vets app”.
https://movementvets.co.uk
The move, branded as Pharmacy2U Pet Health, means clients can manage human and animal medicines through one website and app account, with pet prescriptions dispensed and delivered via the same Royal Mail 48-hour service used for its 1.8 million patients in England.
The development comes as the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) prepares to publish its final decision following an investigation into prescription pricing and competition in the veterinary sector.
The regulator has already raised concerns around transparency and consumer awareness of prescription options.
Pharmacy2U, which was launched in 1999, acquired Lloyds Direct in 2023 and The PharmPet Co in 2024, says its veterinary business has grown by 100% in the last year.
By incorporating veterinary dispensing into its main platform, it is now positioning itself as a single access point for family healthcare, including companion animals and other species.
Neil Younger, Veterinary Services Director, Pharmacy2U (and the original founder of The PharmPet Co) said: “Pet owners are often unaware that in some cases they get their pet’s medication up to 50% cheaper, by simply going online."
The move places veterinary dispensing within a national distance-selling infrastructure, increasing its visibility alongside NHS prescription services.
https://www.pharmacy2u.co.uk
The six bite-sized modules are designed to give whole practice teams GDPR training that reflects day-to-day veterinary workflows, and to provide a simple way for practices to evidence staff training for compliance purposes.
Training-Progress said the aim is to move GDPR training beyond generic, “box-ticking” content by focusing on real scenarios and data-handling habits inside practices.
The programme is split into two learning streams.
A “Team Stream” is aimed at all roles across the practice, covering core GDPR principles and typical data processes in a veterinary setting.
A “Leadership Stream” is described as a deeper dive for practice leaders, focusing on policies, processes and data management.
Laura Shaw, Training-Progress, said the company is frequently asked for GDPR training written specifically for vets, adding: “Generic courses simply aren’t relevant enough to change behaviour.
"Our modules address the real issues that occur in practices every day—issues that cause stress, risk client trust, and can lead to significant consequences with the ICO.”
Nicola Major, practice manager at VetDentist in Harrogate, which trialled the training, said: “The course breaks down everything you need to know about GDPR in a clear, practical way, making a complex subject easy to understand and apply.”
https://www.training-progress.com/gdpr
The session, From Early Care to Lifelong Health: Diarrhoea Management in Puppies and Kittens, will explore evidence suggesting early-life acute intestinal disorders can have lasting effects on gut integrity, immune function and the risk of chronic disease.
Purina says the discussion will focus on practical approaches that teams can apply in practice, including when antibiotic therapy is appropriate in young patients and how to minimise antibiotic-associated dysbiosis.
Topics include mechanisms by which enteritis — including giardiasis and parvoviral enteritis — may compromise gut integrity and increase chronic disease risk, along with best-practice protocols for managing acute diarrhoea to mitigate dysbiosis, preserve gut barrier function and potentially reduce future gastrointestinal and dermatological disorders.
The round table will be chaired by Jan S. Suchodolski MedVet, DrVetMed, PhD, AGAF, DACVM, with contributions from Ana Rostaher Prof, Dr med vet, Dipl ECVD, RCVS; Camille Torres-Henderson DVM, DABVP (Canine/Feline), DACVIM (Nutrition); Stefan Unterer Prof, Dr med vet, Dr habil, Dipl ECVIM-CA; and Michelle van Lienden DVM.
Natalia Wagemans, Head of the Purina Institute, said the aim is to provide “practical, evidence-based insights” that veterinary professionals can apply “immediately to improve long-term outcomes for pets”.
The event is free to attend, will be recorded and made available on demand for registered participants, and will offer live audio and subtitles in more than 50 languages.
https://events.purinainstitute.com/login/purinainstitute/MicrobiomeForumRoundTable2026
For small animal work, the survey shows consultation fees up 4.5% and neutering fees up 8%.
Vaccine fees increased by 9–16%, which SPVS suggests may reflect wider use of Lepto 4 vaccines replacing Lepto 2.
Prescription fees rose 3% to £19.25 (excluding VAT), which SPVS notes remains well above the CMA’s proposed capped rate of £13.33.
The largest shifts in small animal charging were in some surgery and diagnostics. SPVS highlights examples including pyometra treatment, x-rays and ultrasound, which it reports have increased by around 20%.
The picture was different in large animal practice, where SPVS says all visit charges decreased.
Large animal prescription fees, however, rose to £24.48, an increase of nearly 20% on last year.
In equine work, consultation charges increased by 10% and many visit charges fell, according to the survey. The biggest single increase SPVS flagged was blood sampling and interpretation of results, up 42%.
Commenting on the findings, SPVS said there were “no real surprises” this year, with mostly moderate increases and a smaller number of larger uplifts.
SPVS also took the opportunity to emphasise how it believes potential CMA remedies on medicines pricing could affect practice economics, because many veterinary businesses rely on cross-subsidy.
That, it said, could cause a “waterbed effect” where other fees have to rise to maintain viability.
SPVS said it has been meeting with the CMA to slow any changes so that fee increases can be introduced gradually and to minimise potential risks to animal welfare, and plans to run in-person roadshows after the final remedies are published.
https://spvs.org.uk/cma-spvs-response
Lyndsay is a Small Animal Director at Drove Veterinary Hospital in Wiltshire and served as BVNA President from 2023 to 2025, during which time she played a pivotal role representing the association and veterinary nurses across the UK with dedication, professionalism, and unwavering commitment
She is the only veterinary nurse on the hospital board at Drove, contributing to strategic decision-making, clinical governance, operational development and team progression.
The award was one of the BSAVA’s 2026 awards, which recognise contributions from across the veterinary profession.
BSAVA Honorary Secretary Adam Gow said: "Each of them has demonstrated remarkable dedication to the veterinary profession, and we’re proud to recognise the positive impact they make on animals, clients, and colleagues every day."
BEVA said the guidance is intended to help vets ensure good welfare during the necessary euthanasia of horses insured for mortality.
Led by Ian Beamish, the Association reviewed its guidance with input from vets and representatives from the insurance industry.
Ian said: "The veterinary surgeon's primary responsibility is undoubtably to ensure the welfare of the horse, regardless of whether the horse is insured.
"The new guidelines are a modernised version of the outdated 2009 guidelines, with a carefully revised List of Conditions and their prognoses, updated language, and revised protocols on grounds for euthanasia."
He added: "It is important to note that whilst we may advise euthanasia, we may not advise on the insurance policy conditions; this is a matter for the insured and insurer to discuss."
The Equine Insurance Providers Group has approved and adopted the new guidance.
https://www.beva.org.uk/euthanasia-guidelines-for-insured-horses
BVEDS was founded in 2016 to support BAME vets, nurses and students.
The organisation says that the book, entitled ‘Veterinary Diversity and Inclusion: Race, Ethnicity and Religion’, will be a significant move for the professions and it is keen to ensure that veterinary nursing is well represented by RVNs and SVNs from different religious and ethnic backgrounds.
If you'd like to get involved, contact: vetedibook@gmail.com
www.bveds.com
The course, which is a combination of online learning and practical tasks, is designed for veterinary care assistants who have already achieved their Level 2 certificate.
The school, which is part of VetPartners but also welcomes students from outside the group, delivers training to apprentices studying for the Level 2 Animal Care and Welfare Certificate and Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing.
Launched in 1996 with one class of six trainees, Lynwood now supports 120 apprentices from veterinary practices across five counties and claims to have helped more than 1,500 students pass their exams.
Val Belbin, joint head of the school, said: "We are hugely proud of everything the school has achieved over the past three decades and are delighted to be offering this new training opportunity to veterinary nursing assistants.”
https://www.lsvn.co.uk
The CPD events, which are part of the College's Next Steps project, are aimed specifically at returning parents, those coming back from a career break, and individuals moving into management.
They offer a blend of practical guidance, peer support, professional networking, and careers expertise.
Tash Goodwin Roberts, RCVS Projects Implementation Manager, said: "Navigating change can be exciting, but it doesn’t come without challenges.
"Our Next Steps project is designed to make those transitions as smooth as possible, to make sure you feel confident in reconnecting with your professional identity."
The events will take place on 12 May, 21 May, and 18 June at the RCVS' offices in London.
Tickets cost £50 for those booking at least six weeks in advance.
https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/rcvs-next-steps-4825743
For the study, the team at the RVC conducted an online survey of the owners of 9,402 UK dogs to investigate the behaviour of three popular designer Doodle breeds – Cockapoo, Labradoodle and Cavapoo.
Behaviours were compared between the Doodles and their purebred parent breeds, including Cocker Spaniels; Cavalier King Charles Spaniels; Labrador Retrievers; and Toy, Miniature, and Standard Poodles.
Behaviour was assessed using the validated Canine Behavioural Assessment and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) which quantifies diverse behavioural challenges including aggression, fear and anxiety, separation-related behaviour and attention-seeking.
The results show that designer Doodles differed from their purebred parents in approximately 54% of behavioural comparisons.
Where differences were identified, Doodles showed more undesirable behaviours in 82% of comparisons.
Some of these common undesirable behaviours included non-social fear (e.g. fear of traffic, loud noises); separation-related problems (e.g. vocalisation and destructiveness when left alone); and excitability (e.g. strong reactions to exciting events such as walks and doorbells).
Doodles showed less undesirable behaviours in only 18% of the comparisons where a difference was identified, for example Labradoodles scored lower for dog rivalry (e.g., conflict with dogs they live with) compared to Poodles.
Considerable variation between the three individual Doodle breeds was also identified, demonstrating that designer crossbreeds should not be treated as a single, uniform group in terms of behaviour.
For example, Cockapoos displayed a higher level of undesirable behaviours compared to their purebred parent breeds, exceeding that seen in Cavapoos and Labradoodles.
In particular, Cockapoos showed higher levels of aggressive behaviours, such as owner-directed aggression and dog rivalry, than their purebred parents.
Dr Rowena Packer, Senior Lecturer in Companion Animal Behaviour and Welfare Science at the RVC and senior author of the paper, said: “Realistic expectations are key to happy dog ownership.
"When expectations and reality don’t align, both dogs and owners can struggle.
"Preconceived beliefs, such as the idea that designer-crossbreeds are naturally easy to train or are safe with children, can have serious consequences if they aren’t supported by evidence.
"Our research shows that many designer-crossbreeds do not always behave as expected, particularly regarding training, anxiety and aggression, which were more common than in their parent breeds.
"We also found that not all ‘Doodles’ are alike, with Cockapoos tending to display more undesirable behaviour compared to Labradoodles and Cavapoos, highlighting that each breed is unique.
"By providing reliable scientific data, we can help puppy buyers to make better-informed choices that support both human wellbeing and canine welfare.”
The online invitation survey was conducted among 6,500 pet owners from around the world, 1,000 of whom were based in the UK.
Whilst the survey didn't glean any further information about the nature of the infections, such as what percent of them were endoparasites versus ectoparasites, it did reveal that 61% of respondents said their pet experienced discomfort or illness, 39% said they showed behavioural changes and 38% reported that it made them feel anxious.
However, 38% see a parasite infection as not serious or just slightly serious.
Seventy per cent of owners said they get their parasite information from vets, compared to 43% from the internet.
Forty-five per cent use prescription treatments and 40% use vet-administered treatments in a clinic.
According to the company, 71% of UK pet owners said they would like clearer guidance on parasite protection, yet 35% have not been informed about parasite risks in their area by their vet.
Ian Wright MRCVS, Chairman/Director of ESCCAP (European Scientific Counsel Companion Animal Parasites), said: "It has never been more important to be aware of parasites and the risk to companion animals – the increased movement of pets and people, as well as climate change, has fuelled a rapid shift in the distribution of parasites and their proximity to pets.
"Pets can carry parasites which affect animal and human health - although there are familiar types, such as fleas – we need to be vigilant for unexpected parasites moving into new countries and regions.
"With simple precautions and preventative measures, we can minimise the risk of diseases they may bring, and continue to enjoy the wonderful benefits of pet ownership."
IVC started writing to the practices at the start of last year, threatening legal action over their use of the term 'Pet Health Club', which the company says infringes its trademark rights.
In March 2025, IVC sent follow-up letters to affected practices, offering an extension until 31st December 2025 to comply with its demands, but according to We Are Spartacus, there has been no contact since the deadline passed.
Meanwhile, We Are Spartacus reports that 200 veterinary professionals have registered their opposition to IVC's claims via its website.
Dr Natalie Morris-Webb, owner of Malthouse Vets, one of the affected practices, said: “Last year was a worrying time for lots of independent practices with a ‘Pet Health Club.’
"Many of those that came forward had been using the term long before IVC registered its wordmark in 2019 and either had to face the cost and hassle of rebranding their health plans or enter into a legal dispute with IVC.
“Neither of these are appealing options for independent practices, or their owner managers.
"Although IVC appears to have ceased defending the ‘pet health club’ wordmark, with none of the affected practices reporting any further correspondence for many months, the uncertainty is still there.
"It’s unacceptable that IVC has not yet achieved a commercial settlement, or revealed whether they have given the industry a reprieve and no longer plan to take legal action.”
An IVC Evidensia spokesperson said: "We have no current plans to approach anyone we haven’t previously contacted on this matter, but of course, we reserve the rights available to the company, as trademark holder, to protect our trademarks and customers in the future, as in any sector."
"A material number of those previously infringing our trademark have now updated their branding.
"Anyone still in breach was given clear notification, so the position is unambiguous - they are required to update."
The Pet Health Club website does not currently state that the scheme is owned by IVC Evidensia.
www.wearespartacus.co.uk
Although the regulator says the changes should impose only limited administrative costs, VetSurgeon.org estimates that implementation may still run to several thousand pounds for some practices.
Under the reforms, practices will need to:
In total, the CMA package introduces more than a dozen new operational requirements for veterinary practices.
Practices will also have to pay a new levy to the RCVS to fund its expanded role running the price comparison service, estimated at £450-£550 annually, after a £150-£250 setup charge.
Once the Order is made — currently expected in September 2026 — most of the transparency measures will need to be implemented within three months by larger veterinary groups and six months by smaller practices.
More operational changes, such as written estimates, itemised billing and the new prescription rules, follow later, with smaller practices typically given up to 12 months to comply.
The final stage will see practices submitting data to the RCVS for its upgraded Find a Vet comparison platform once the system has been built.
Prescription fees will be capped at £21 for the first medicine prescribed in a consultation and £12.50 for each additional medicine, with both figures rising annually in line with CPI, and practices will need to assess the impact on their business model.
Sarah says that while some patients do benefit from seeing multidisciplinary hospital teams, many are easily managed in practice and benefit from local care.
Oncotails offers early intervention at the time of diagnosis, either with advice for the GP or an owner consultation to discuss treatment options and likely prognosis, and to answer those difficult questions.
This, says Sarah, frees up time for the local vet who keeps management of the case but with the expert guidance of a specialist.
https://www.oncotails.com
The CertAVN was introduced in 2019 as a modular, more flexible postgraduate route for veterinary nurses, replacing the Diploma in Advanced Veterinary Nursing (DipAVN).
The RCVS says the update includes a new programme standard focused on creating a positive learning culture.
Julie Dugmore, RCVS director of veterinary nursing, said the standard is intended to ensure providers foster “inclusive, reflective and student-centred learning environments”, and that it strengthens expectations around academic support, how the qualification should advance knowledge, and the need for institutions to take student wellbeing into account.
For course providers, the changes signal clearer expectations not just around content and outcomes, but around the support structures and learning environment wrapped around the programme. For veterinary nurses considering the CertAVN, the framework highlights what providers are expected to put in place around academic support and student experience.
https://www.rcvs.org.uk/certavn
The branding will sit alongside existing practice names, appearing on signage, uniforms, client materials and digital channels.
Lime Trees Vets in Stoke-on-Trent is the first site to adopt the identity, with further practices transitioning in phases through the year.
IVC Evidensia says the move is intended to bring its first-opinion, referral, farm and equine services together under a single banner, reflecting the scale of its UK network and communicating its core values simply, whilst preserving local clinical independence.
George Dymond, CEO of IVC Evidensia UK and Ireland, said the aim is to make it clearer how practices within the group are connected while retaining their local presence.
Website updates, client campaigns and social media channels will be updated as the rollout progresses.